Modi Begins Central Asia Tour With Two-Day State Visit to Uzbekistan

PM Modi arrived in Tashkent for a two-day state visit, the first stop on a four-day Central Asia tour.

Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev personally received Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Tashkent on Saturday, with the two leaders sharing a car ride — an informal gesture signaling the warmth of the bilateral relationship. The visit is the first leg of a four-day Central Asia tour for Modi. After his two-day stay in Uzbekistan, Modi is scheduled to travel to Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek for the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. The SCO is a major multilateral security and economic bloc that includes China, Russia, Pakistan, and several Central Asian states. The trip reflects India's stated goal of deepening strategic engagement with Central Asia, a region of growing geopolitical significance. Discussions during the visit are reported to span a range of bilateral and regional topics, though specific agenda items were not detailed in initial reporting.

Why it matters

Central Asia has become an increasingly contested region for major powers, and India's high-level engagement signals its ambition to expand influence beyond South Asia. The SCO Summit in Bishkek will bring Modi into direct multilateral contact with leaders including those of China and Pakistan.

What's next

Modi is set to travel from Uzbekistan to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for the 26th SCO Summit.

Key facts

Bias & framing notes

News18 framed the visit in broad, strategic terms emphasizing India's diplomatic ambitions, while Times of India focused on the personal and ceremonial aspects of Modi's reception in Tashkent. Neither source provided substantive detail on specific agenda items or outcomes, limiting the depth of available facts.

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